The laughable element consists of a certain mechanical inelasticity, where one would expect to find the wideawake adaptability and living pliableness of a human being; brought about by external circumstance. A certain inborn lack of elasticity in senses and intelligence, so that we continue to see what is no longer visible, to hear what is no longer audible: to adapt ourselves to a past situation, when we ought to be shaping our conduct in accordance with the reality which is present. The rigidity of a fixed idea - failure to adapt.

The rigidity is the comic, and laughter is its corrective. Laughter is a sort of social gesture.'

What life and society require of each of us is a constantly alert attention that discerns the outlines of the present situation, together with a certain elasticity of mind and body to enable us to adapt ourselves in consequence.